Loyalists threatened to quit mediation talks at a sectarian flashpoint today in fury at a police decision to take down three paramilitary flags.
PSNI officers removed banners from the centre of Antrim ahead of the town hosting athletes competing in the Special Olympics.
But Progressive Unionist Party representative Mr Ken Wilkinson criticised at police chiefs for not consulting loyalists first. His anger was intensified when he was told officers later consulted community leaders in a rival nationalist area before taking down a republican flag.
Two Young Citizens Volunteers flags and another representing the UVF were erected in the town for a special parade in memory of Denver Smith, the Antrim loyalist murdered three years ago.
Mr Wilkinson, whose party is linked to the Ulster Volunteer Force, said the move could lead to a walk-out from a new forum set up last month.
The Community Safety Committee scheme has drafted in politicians, voluntary workers, police and the Probation Board in a bid to ease tensions between Protestants in the Stiles estate and Catholics living in nearby Rathenraw.
"We are considering withdrawing from any dialogue with police and other mediation people until we get answers," Mr Wilkinson warned. "We feel shafted. Police entered into dialogue with republicans regarding the removal of the tricolour but they wouldn't talk to us".
With Antrim hosting athletes from Connecticut competing in the Special Olympics that get underway in Dublin tomorrow, the PSNI insisted it had acted to rid the streets of all sectarian trappings.
PA